The most famous bridges in paris Bridges of Paris (Paris, France) The most famous bridge in Paris

There are thirty-seven bridges in Paris that dominate the Seine.

Bridges, built at different times, were not always preferred by Parisians. Parisians usually used a boat or ferry to cross to the other side of the river or to one of the natural islands of the city. Some famous bridges deserve a more detailed mention.

This bridge, which was opened for the World Exhibition in 1900, bears the name of Emperor Alexander III, the penultimate emperor of Russia. It has a metal frame and consists of thirty-two brass chandeliers and numerous sculptures, including winged deities, groups of lions led by children and nymphs. The first stones were laid in 1896 by Tsar Nicholas II, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and President of the Republic Felix Faure.

Bridge of Arts

Currently, Le Pont Des Arts or Pont des Arts is very popular among tourists for the fact that locks of love are placed on the bridge. However, the city of Paris does not support this practice because the weight of the padlocks poses a danger to the building's structure. This bridge was declared a Historic Landmark in 1975, but note that the current version was actually reconstructed in 1984. The explosions of two world wars weakened the structure, which forced the closure of the bridge in 1977, which collapsed in 1979.

The Pont de Beer-Hakeim, formerly known as the Passy Bridge, is a bridge erected in memory of the Free French. The bridge bears its current name in honor of the Battle of Bir-Hakeim, which took place in Libya in 1942.

Charles de Gaulle bridge

The modern design of the Charles de Gaulle bridge seems strange in the Seine landscape. Its white plank shape and airplane wing make it a remarkable element of the neighborhood between Bercy and the François Mitterrand library.

The Pont de la Concorde stones, discovered in 1791, come from the Bastille, destroyed during the uprising on July 14, 1789. In 1810, at the initiative of Napoleon Bonaparte, decorations were added to the structure, which is quite simple at first glance.

The Mirabeau Bridge, known for a poem by Guillaume Apollinaire and a song by Leo Ferret in 1973, crosses the Seine in the 15th arrondissement of the French capital.

Contrary to its name, Pont Neuf or New Bridge is the oldest bridge in Paris. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991 due to its age and this bridge is a monument that appears in many paintings in Paris. It is also a bridge that is used to measure the flow of the Seine.

The Pont Royal was built on the initiative of Louis XII after the wreck of a ferry that crosses the Seine. It is the third oldest bridge in Paris and was declared a Historic Monument in 1939.

Discovering the architecture of the bridges of Paris is a real time travel. And the reasons for their construction and decoration are part of the history of the city.

As you know, Paris originated on a small island on the Seine River and from here it began. Therefore, the first crossings in Paris connected the Isle of Cité with the right and left banks of the Seine. At first they were built with wood, but later they were converted into stone, and many were even built up with buildings. The history of inhabited bridges in Paris is not very simple. The first shops of artisans and traders appeared already in the 12th century and by the 15th century the first residential buildings and shops could be seen on the Pont Notre-Dame bridge. Thanks to them, it quickly turned into a shopping center of the city. However, by order of the king in 1786, all buildings were demolished from the bridge.

New bridge (pont Neuf) is in fact the oldest surviving. Its construction began at the end of the 16th century, then there were already 4 river crossings in Paris, but they could not cope with the ever-increasing traffic. He was needed in order to defuse the situation on the Exchange and the Notre Dame Bridge. The peculiarity of this viaduct at that time was that there were no buildings on it.

This, in turn, aroused the indignation of merchants who were used to seeing bridges in Paris built up with shops and residential buildings. Undoubtedly, this building is one of the symbols of the city for which it was repeatedly mentioned in the works of artists and writers.

Pont de Change, in its place, as in the place of most crossings in the center of Paris, in the 9th century there was originally a wooden structure. Subsequently, around 1638, a stone bridge was built, on which about 140 houses were located and more than 100 trading shops changed, for which it was named so.

The royal building contract stated that all buildings must match and match each other, all structures must be of the same material and be on the same level. As a result, all the buildings on the bridge looked like two rows of identical houses with shops and stalls on the ground floor, which faced the narrow street between them.

By the time the first iron Pont des ArtsInhabited bridges already had a reputation for being unsanitary, dangerous and anti-aesthetic. This viaduct, built in 1801-1804 by order of the Emperor Napoleon, is now pedestrianized.

Therefore, many passers-by stop here just to have a snack or sit on a bench, because the view from the building and the place itself is of extraordinary beauty. This crossing also connects the French Academy, and since the Louvre was previously called the Palace of Arts, the bridge was named accordingly.

Pont Alexandre III is directly related to Russia. It was built in 1896-1900 in honor of the conclusion of a military alliance between France and Russia. And it was named after the father of Emperor Nicholas II, Alexander III, who, during the construction, himself laid one of the stones in the foundation of the structure.

Many consider this one in Paris to be the most chic. Indeed, even from afar, the structure sparkles with gilded figures located on four 17-meter columns and at the same time strikes with its lightness, because the bridge is single-span.

Bridge of Concord (Pont Concorde) It is famous for being built from the stone remains of the destroyed and in honor of this it was first called the Bridge of the Revolution.

Now it bears the name on the right bank of the Seine, which it connects with the Bourbon Palace on the left bank. Today, this bridge in Paris ranks first in terms of traffic.

So, the history and development of Paris is inextricably linked with its bridges, of which there are 38 only within the boulevard rings. And any tourist can be happy to spend more than one day studying and contemplating only bridges of paris.

As you know, Paris originated on a small island on the Seine River and it was from here that the history of the great city began. Therefore, the first crossings in Paris connected the Isle of Cité with the right and left banks of the Seine. At first they were built with wooden ones, but later they were converted into stone ones, and many were even built up with buildings. The history of inhabited bridges in Paris is not very simple. The first shops of artisans and traders appeared already in the 12th century and by the 15th century the first residential buildings and shops could be seen on the Pont Notre-Dame bridge. Thanks to them, it quickly turned into a shopping center of the city. However, by order of the king in 1786, all buildings were demolished from the bridge.

New bridge

New bridge

The New Bridge (pont Neuf) is actually the oldest surviving bridge. Its construction began at the end of the 16th century, then in Paris there were already 4 river crossings, but they could not cope with the ever-increasing traffic. He was needed in order to defuse the situation on the Exchange and the Notre Dame Bridge. The peculiarity of this viaduct at that time was that there were no buildings on it.

This, in turn, aroused the indignation of merchants, who were used to seeing bridges in Paris built up with shops and residential buildings. Undoubtedly, this building is one of the symbols of the city for which it was repeatedly mentioned in the works of artists and writers.

The Pont de Change (Pont de Change), in its place, as in the place of most crossings in the center of Paris, in the 9th century there was originally a wooden structure. Later, around 1638, a stone bridge was built, on which extensive construction of houses began - for all the time there were about 140 houses here and more than 100 trading shops changed, for which it was named so.

The royal building contract stated that all buildings must match and match each other, all structures must be of the same material and be on the same level. As a result, all the buildings on the bridge looked like two rows of identical houses with shops and stalls on the ground floor, which faced the narrow street between them.

Bridge of Arts

Bridge of Arts

By the time the first iron bridge of the Arts (Pont des Arts) appeared in Paris, inhabited bridges already had a reputation for being unsanitary, dangerous and anti-aesthetic. This viaduct, built in 1801-1804 by order of the Emperor Napoleon, is now pedestrianized.

Therefore, many passers-by stop here just to have a snack or sit on a bench, because the view from the building and the place itself is of extraordinary beauty. This crossing connects the Louvre Museum and the French Academy, and since the Louvre was previously called the Palace of Arts, the bridge began to be called accordingly.

The bridge of Alexander III (Pont Alexandre III) is directly related to Russia. It was built in 1896-1900 in honor of the conclusion of a military alliance between France and Russia. And it was named after the father of Emperor Nicholas II, Alexander III, who, during the construction, himself laid one of the stones in the foundation of the structure.

Many consider this bridge to be the most luxurious in Paris. Indeed, even from afar, the structure sparkles with gilded figures located on four 17-meter columns and at the same time strikes with its lightness, because the bridge is single-span.

The Pont Neuf bridge was once created in order to solve the problem of congestion by expanding the number of crossings across the Seine. By our time, the rest of the structures that existed at that time were rebuilt, and the "New Bridge" became the oldest in the city.

Pont Neuf - "New Bridge" - opened in 1607, length 232 m, width 22 m

The name "Pont Neuf" (Pont Neuf) is translated from French as "New Bridge", which is quite consistent with the realities of the time of its construction. The Pont-Neuf, passing through the western edge of the island, connects the embankment on the right bank with the Conti embankment and the Grand-Augustin on the left. This crossing of the Seine was the fifth in the French capital. Surprisingly, it went through five centuries to become one of the symbols of the city today, much older than all other bridges.

Map of Paris in 1615 with the designated Pont Neuf opened in 1607
Bridge changed - 140 houses,
112 benches and a mill - painting 1756

The history of the appearance of Pont-Neuf

Despite the fact that in the 16th century it was not as densely populated as it is now, the transport problem of the capital of France worried even then. The fact is that in those years bridges were "platforms" for trade, on which not only artisans exhibited counters, but even completely built up houses. Naturally, the width of the carriageway was rapidly decreasing, making it impossible for not only carriages and pedestrians, but also crowned persons to cross freely between the banks of the Seine.

In 1556, Henry II proposed to build a new bridge over the Seine, located nearby, according to the plan, it was intended only for free movement, without the construction of houses and shops. However, his plan fell through, meeting fierce resistance from merchants who did not want to lose potential customers. The cost, estimated too high for the state treasury, also played a role. Only 30 years later, already under Henry III, the work still began. The foundation stone of the Pont Neuf was laid on 31 May 1578 by the king in the presence of Catherine de Medici, Queen Mother, and his wife, Louise of Lorraine.

Pont-Neuf was "born" in agony - the Parisian merchants desperately protested against this development of events. But it was not called "the bridge of weeping" because of this. According to the testimonies of contemporaries, it rained during the start of construction, and the king wept. Only he sobbed not because of the bad weather, but because of the death of one of his favorites in a duel.

The king himself did not see the results of construction. After his death, the works were frozen for 10 years due to the popular uprising against the king and the unstable political situation in the country from 1588 to 1598. However, in 1607, when the country was ruled by another Henry, already IV, Pont-Neuf was still opened.

Pont-nave is a project approved by Henry III in 1578.
Pont-Neuf - shop on the bridge

Construction of the Pont-Neuf bridge

It was originally planned that the Pont Neuf construction would be a single whole, connecting the two banks without any barriers. The bridge was not supposed to be built up with workshops and housing, which was contrary to tradition. The idea belonged to one of the architects, Andrue de Sersot, and not to Henry III, as is often incorrectly stated. Naturally, traders did not like this option. Under pressure from the public, already in 1579, it was decided to "slightly" rework the structure for the possibility of building buildings in the future. For this, some changes were made to the project, for example, the need for basements was taken into account.

But a year after laying the first stone, the builders came to the conclusion that the structure would be more resistant to the influence of the river flow if its two parts across the island were built at a slight angle. And after the plans nevertheless included the appearance of houses in the future at the crossing, the architects had to increase the number of arches on each side. At the same time, construction has already begun on the southern side, and the length of the spans had to be reduced. As a result, a lot of money was spent on rebuilding the structure. Only in the end, all these innovations were practically not useful; in the entire history of the bridge, houses on it did not appear. The business was limited to only small buildings, which housed the shops of merchants and the building of the pumping station.

Pont Neuf - Samaritan Pump Pont Neuf - painting by G. Canella -1832

"Pump to Samaryanka"

In addition to small shops under the roofs, which stood on the pillars of the bridge, only one full-fledged building was added to the Pont-Neuf - "Pump Samaryanka". In 1602, the king authorized the construction of a large pump to supply water to the palaces and the Tuileries with their gardens. The pumping station was a small dwelling house on piles, crowned with a clock with chimes, inside which was a steam engine and two large wheels that scooped up water.

The Samarian pump, designed and built by the Flemish Jean Lintlayer, was the first water lifting machine built in. In 1791, sculptures were removed from the pumping house, and it itself was transferred to the post of the guard. In 1813, the building of the former pumping station was completely dismantled, and by the middle of the 19th century the shops of merchants were gradually dismantled. However, the name "Samaryanka" has not gone forever, today this name bears a huge multi-storey store near the bridge (under reconstruction).

In the 21st century, the Pont-Neuf, despite numerous restorations, is the oldest structure, in contrast to the "contemporaries", which were completely rebuilt on old foundations. Now he, as in the XVI century. is a 232-meter structure with a width of 22 meters. At one time it was the longest bridge (now the 5th), and the first bridge in Paris to have sidewalks for pedestrians.

Pont Neuf - New Bridge
Pont Neuf - New bridge - mascarons

Why Pont Neuf is loved by tourists

The Pont Neuf is not only a historical and architectural monument. It is also an important cultural landmark. Particularly noteworthy here are the "mascarons" - sculptural decorations in the form of the heads of the heroes of ancient Greek myths. The original jewelry was created in part by the famous Renaissance sculptor Germain Pilon and his followers (the master died in 1590). Today the bridge is decorated with copies of 16th century masks. Originals too exposed to the weather have been moved to museums: Cluny. Interestingly, among 381 mascarons, only one image is female.

The viewer who sees the bridge for the first time may have questions regarding the purpose of decorative semicircular projections at the level of the sidewalks. They were created in order to streamline possible trade, placing benches not on the road, but in special recesses. Today they offer a magnificent view of the Seine, with river trams sailing along it, and visible in the distance.

Pont Neuf - New Bridge - statue of Henry IV
Pont Neuf - New bridge

In the XIX century. the appearance of the bridge has received many additions and changes. For example, semicircular arches were replaced by lowered ones, and Victor Baltar's metal lanterns appeared. At the beginning of the 19th century, Louis XVIII restored the statue of the horseman on the island - a copy of the bronze statue of Henry IV, commissioned by Marie de Medici. The original statue was destroyed in 1792 during the French Revolution.

Travelers will also be interested in Ver-Galan - the "Ardent Lover" square, which is laid out in the western part of the island and has a triangular shape ("arrow"). The descent to it is accessible via a staircase located directly behind the aforementioned statue of Henry IV. Quiet garden, small quiet alleys, the opportunity to ride the river trams that dock on the island - today this place is very popular with lovers. Given the fact that the bridge connects the path from the embankment to the Conti embankment, the romantic mood inherent in the park is very appropriate for the townspeople and tourists who are in a hurry to enjoy the beauty of Paris.

Locks of love on the bridge of the Archdiocese 2016
Castles on the Pont-Neuf bridge at the statue of Henry IV - 2017

Lovers' Castles

A tradition that began in the 19th century in Florence, where young men and women, "fixing" their feelings, hung locks on the Ponte Vecchio, and threw the keys into the Arno River reached Paris. Moreover, in the most visited city in the world by tourists, "Lovers' Castles" have become so popular that they have become a problem. After in 2007, under the weight of numerous castles, a lantern fell on the Mulvian Bridge in Rome - activists sounded the alarm. "Lovers' castles" that filled the bridges of Paris began to pose a real threat, since the weight of their metal reaches one hundred tons, which leads to deformation of the supports of engineering structures, and the bottom of the Seine is strewn with rusting keys.

Carousel Bridge

Pont du Carrousel is one of the most beautiful in the first arrondissement. It got its name because there was a square with the same name nearby. This name was given almost immediately after the construction. The Pont du Carousel is also named by King Louis-Philippe himself.

Coordinates: 48.85928, 2.3329.

Metro station closest to the bridge: Palais Royal - Musée du Louvre, lines M1 and M7.

The bridges of Paris: the fourth arrondissement

Bridge Changed

Pont au Change is one of the most famous bridges in Paris. Previously, shopkeepers and money changers were located here, the bridge was practically the financial artery of Paris. At the end of the eighteenth century, the shops were demolished, and the bridge was ennobled. Now he looks amazing. The bridge connects "continental" Paris and the Ile de la Cité.

The coordinates of the Changed bridge in Paris: 48.856527, 2.346654.

Metro: Châtelet, lines 1, 4, 7, 11, 14 and Cité - line M4.

Bridge Notre- Ladies

Pont Notre-Dame is famous for its close proximity to Notre Dame Cathedral. It connects the Cité and the coast of Paris. Here tourists are welcomed by artists, cartoonists, caricatures, as well as souvenir shops and a lot of entertainment. Rollers are rolling on the bridge, be careful!

The coordinates of the Notre Dame Bridge in Paris: 48.856188, 2.348564.

Metro: Cit é - line M4, H ôtel de Ville, lines M1 and M11.

Tournel Bridge

Pont de la Tournelle is very old, it was built in 1651, and there used to be a wooden bridge here. Pont Tournelle is famous for being mentioned in the novel by Dumas "The Three Musketeers". Be sure to look at it.

Coordinates: 48.850682, 2.355494.

Get to the Tournelle Bridge: Pont Marie, line M7.

Marie Bridge

Pont-Marie is named after the entrepreneur Christophe Marie, the construction of this bridge began in 1614, under Louis the eighth.

Accessible by car: 48.8528,2.357297.

Metro: Pont Marie, line M7.

The bridges of Paris: the fifth arrondissement

Small bridge of Paris

The shortest Petit Pont is only 32 meters long. He connected the banks of the Seine in the days of Julius Caesar.

Bridge coordinates: 48.853343, 2.346965.

RER station B and C: Saint-Michel - Notre-Dame, metro - Cité, line M4.

Bridge Sep- Michelle

Pont de Saint-Michel is one of the most popular among tourists as it connects the famous Saint-Michel square with the main attraction - the Ile de la Cité. It was built in 1378, later rebuilt and got its modern look more than 150 years ago.

The coordinates of the Saint-Michel bridge are 48.854028, 2.344573.

Metro near Pont Saint-Michel: Saint-Michel, line M4.

The bridges of Paris: the sixth arrondissement

New bridge, Pont-Neuf

Pont Neuf is one of the oldest bridges in Paris and is even a symbol of the city. And it is called - "New Bridge". Apparently, due to the reconstruction, the lack of houses on it, and almost always was almost the busiest street in Paris.

The Pont Neuf in Paris is a very romantic place; lovers often meet here. The bridge connects the sixth and first arrondissements.

Coordinates: 48.857459, 2.34159.

Metro: Pont Neuf, line M7.

Bridge of Arts

Pont des Arts - the path from the sixth to the first arrondissement.

This is the first iron bridge in Paris, it was built in 1802, and is intended only for pedestrians. That is why here you can see a rather unusual picture: tourists dining right on the bridge, sitting right on the sidewalk.

Coordinates: 48.858518, 2.337588.

The bridge is right next to the Louvre, metro station - Louvre - Rivoli, line M1.

Bridge Beer- Hakeim

Pont de Bir -Hakeim is both pedestrian and car, it is more than 100 years old. From this bridge you can see the Eiffel Tower. Especially good - from the metro, you can drive along this bridge on the sixth line.

And the nearest stations - Bir-Hakeim and Passy - are on opposite sides of the Seine.

Coordinates: 48.855694, 2.287753.

The bridges of Paris: the seventh arrondissement

Bridge Disabled

Pont des Invalides - Pont des Invalides, this is one of the most unusual buildings in Paris. The central pillar is decorated with a figure that symbolizes Napoleon's victories, while the heads on the other pillars are trophies of war.

The coordinates of the Bridge of the Invalids: 48.863713, 2.310348.

Metro near the Bridge of Invalides: Invalides, lines M8 and M13. RER C is the station of the same name.

Pont Royal

The Pont Royal is the third oldest bridge located between the Paris Bank and the Flora Pavilion. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was one of the historical monuments. This bridge was reconstructed more often than others.

Coordinates: 48.859972, 2.329745.

Metro: Musée d "Orsay, RER C.

Bridge Consent

Pont de la Concorde is a construction of stones from the once destroyed Bastille. Previously, it bore the name of the king, and then it was renamed in honor of the square, to which it leads.

The Pont de la Concorde in Paris connects the left and right banks of the Seine.

Coordinates for those who get by car: 48.86319, 2.319424.

Nearest metro: Concorde, lines M1, M8, M12.

Alma bridge

Pont de l "Alma is a 150 meter long bridge located in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. It was built in 1856 in honor of the victory of the French troops. Princess Diana died in the tunnel under this bridge.

Coordinates: 48.863374, 2.301829.

Metro: Alma - Marceau, line 9.

Bridge of Paris: eighth arrondissement

Alexander bridgeIII

Pont Alexandre III is perhaps the most popular among Russian tourists. The bridge of Paris in honor of Alexander III is made in the Beaux-art style, it is decorated with figures of pegasus, angels and nymphs. Pont Alexandre III is one of the most beautiful in Paris. Coordinates: 48.863656, 2.313545.

You can get to Pont Alexander III by metro: station Invalides of lines M8, M13, RER C line.

The bridges of Paris: twelfth arrondissement

Austerlitz bridge

Pont d "Austerlitz connects the fifth and twelfth arrondissements of Paris and is quite a visited attraction. It was discovered more than 200 years ago, but built of metal. In the Battle of Austerlitz, French military leaders were killed and their names are now engraved on the ornaments of the bridge.

Coordinates: 48.844963, 2.365944.

You can get to the Austrelitz Bridge in Paris by metro: Gare d "Austerlitz station, lines M5 and M10, RER C.

Bridge Charles- de- Gaulle

Pont Charles de Gaulle connects the twelfth and thirteenth arrondissements of Paris. It looks like an airplane wing, length - 238 meters, width - 35. The bridge connects the two stations in Paris: Lyonsky and Austerlitz.

The coordinates of the Charles de Gaulle bridge are 48.842506, 2.369013.

You can get there by metro: Gare d "Austerlitz station, lines М5, М10, RER C, Paris Gare de Lyon station, lines М1 and М14, RER A and D.

Bridge of Paris: fifteenth arrondissement

Mirabeau bridge

Pont Mirabeau connects the fifteenth and sixteenth arrondissements of Paris. He is famous for a poem by Apollinaire. This is a very beautiful bridge, it looks especially interesting from the shore.

The coordinates of the bridge in Paris: 48.846587, 2.275693.

Metro station: Mirabeau, line M10.

Enjoy your walks across the bridges of Paris! It is very beautiful, interesting, amazing and impressive.

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